Some of the public may be aware of the current changes that have been going on in the tattoo industry. Briefly, in October 2013 the Australian Gov’t implemented regulations to tidy up the tattoo industry from Bikie outlaws and gangs.
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As most people know a huge amount of tattoo shops are owned and ran by these groups and heaven forbid if any independent person should try to open their own tattoo shop…
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\n\nSo a poorly implemented Government regulation that demands Tattoo Artists to be licensed or face 'heavy' fines and License disqualifications ; has caused a negative effect on many talented artists careers by being introduced. Affecting the quality of artists that are about today. Great artist have lost their careers, their families and lives directly effected and yet the gang owned parlous still thrive. NSW and Australian Government not meeting their own portrayed objectives of 'cleaning up the tattoo industry'.
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\n\nA tattoo artist possesses qualities and skill sets above and beyond any mainstream service, yet are still faced with judgment and ostracized from today's society... Even though today there are more tattooed people than non tattooed people here in Australia! It also seems as though the government is regulating the industry with out any concerns for the quality or skill-sets that drive the tattoo industry.
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A tattooist licence costs $745 and an operator licence costs $2,229 every few years. There is not any time frame for either license to be granted or provided and the regulation guidelines may shift without any warning. You may think this isn't so bad but wait... My OWN Personal experience of an Operator license took 13 MONTHS to be provided!
\n\nIt can take 13+ months to have either license granted however for a tattoo shop 'operator license' you are supposed to have a shop premise, change of business nature - DA approval from your town's council, health and safety industry sign off, insurances, Asics fees, ATO payments, Hazardous Waste services as well as the shop fit out that must contain surveillance cameras that the police can require footage at any given time... All prior to your application. Oh yes and there is only one insurance company in London that works with Aussie brokers that will cover tattoo parlours here in Australia; as tattoo parlours are deemed to be ‘high risk’ because of the gangs and are deemed liabilities … So of course your shop insurance costs a small fortune.
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Not only that but you need your insurance provided before you can gain the keys to your newly leased premise, however you need the operator license to get the insurance policy approved prior. Also your landlord's insurance is now compromised by harboring a tattoo artist in their rental premise and his/her insurances are also increased... My current lease may not be extended unless I absorb my landlord increased insurance fees! (Hornsby) Yes that's right and that cost gets handed down to the little guy. (not including how many time i was denied a property location due to the 'nature' of my business)
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So a vicious cycle which makes it impossible to open up your own legitimate tattoo shop here in Australia/ let me correct that - NSW and Queensland as the other states in Australia have not had the criminal licensing regulation implemented !
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\n\nAnswer me this: What NON-GANG affiliated small business person can open for 13 or more months and pay for all of the out goings without operating or making a single $ dollar's income; whilst waiting for their Tattoo Operator License - that may or may not be granted? (You cannot legally make a claim against the Government for any financial losses either as the industry is still not recognised in the retail act...) – That’s exactly right, you simply cannot do it! A legitimate individual cannot set up and run a legitimate small tattoo business here in NSW!
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Tattoo artists are not at all corrupt criminals! We are just caught in the crossfire and some of us sadly are collateral damage, stripped of our careers and means to earn a living.
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\n\nThe Tattoo industry is also un-regulated with regard to the 'procedure' . That's right the criminal scrutineer is in place but the 'service' has NO regulation around it. Neither does apprentices or traineeships. Leaving the tattoo industry facing huge struggles not only with people's perception which is based on the 'Bikie' and edgy side of life that tattoos had been associated with. But also uneducated or skilled people 'back yard' artist’s that are out there performing tattoos, picking up cheap tattoo laser removal equipment and performing poor services that mark people for a lifetime. Acquiring on-line equipment and inks at low cost with no knowledge of any FDA approval or ingredient content - then providing unprofessional results that cause harm over good quality results from professional shops.
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Where is the AUSTRALIAN business regulatory system that makes service providers accountable to their customers? Our Tattoo industry has a regulatory system for ‘criminal association’ but nothing for the actual procedure. I would like to see schools, certifications and transparent attainability of these qualifications and the ability for the public to acquire the information too. This should be implemented ‘across the board’ for any practice of any form of beauty procedure no matter how medically comprehensive!
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\nOne! Australian Regulatory Authority Entity that holds licenses and certifications for any company in any state. And in this day and age having a feasible media platform where people can easily obtain the information but also place feedback on their procedure.
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Encouraging quality service deliverable accountability and over all care!
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\n\nAs a tattoo artist you would normally have to be working for a tattoo shop to obtain a tattoo artist license undergoing an apprenticeship. However recent changes made it accessible for anyone one to apply for a tattoo license. “Just fill in the back of your cereal box, add a completed 'close associate form', pay the money and hey presto – you’ll have a NSW tattoo Card in six months or so”. You don't even need to know how to assemble a tattoo machine and NSW 'Fair Trading will grant you a tattoo license...
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\n\nIs this a façade, people? As the Gov’t are not achieving their goal by any means, in-fact the very people they are keeping in business are the bikie and gang-owned tattoo parlours! This directly opposes their own 'promoted' objective of cleaning up the tattoo industry does it not? Oh and let us not forget the corrupt cops that are out there taking additional income kickbacks and 'closing' / 'Stalking' competitive shops without any correct protocol or paperwork...
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\n\nThe Licensing regulation makes it almost impossible for overseas artists to do 'featured Guest' spots here in NSW. There is no Visa that they fall under for applications. So as a business owner we cannot bring skilled awesome artists into NSW (We are the only country in the world). We also cannot license the artist as the criteria for the criminal licensing does not extend to non residents or non citizens.
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Also factor in that a 'Tattoo artist' is not listed in the RETAIL LEASES ACT 1994 - Schedule 1 with regard to the ‘criteria of a retail lease’ which means as an operator trying to set up a shop - WE have NO rights when our premise landlord or owner - if they choose to not to comply with the mandatory ‘close association information' required. Verified Forms- which are very evasive for a landlord just wanting to rent out a premise. These regulation requirements of an operator license are detrimental for the application and grant of any tattoo operations license.
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\n\nToday is the best time to be in the Tattoo industry. It has never been as popular as it is today. The technology has never been as advanced. The ink quality and material products are formulated for healing the pigment into the skin. The deliverable art work is amazing and tattooing has become more socially acceptable in society and the workplace.
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\n\nIt's inevitable that tattooing will remain popular.
\n\nTaking into consideration all of the above and the complexity of how comprehensive the tattooing 'conundrum' is. Please consider that your artist is trying to understand people’s expectations and provide customized tattoo artwork to the best of their ability and it all can be very challenging. So be patient and support your legitimate professional NON affiliated - local tattoo artist as we have a lot to contend with. X
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The struggles with my own shop had an impact on every area of my life including my book release of Art Angel Tattoo and my custom painting side include as my business. Now in 2019 / 2020...
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","stylesMapId":"CK_EDITOR_PARAGRAPH_STYLES","linkList":[]},"c45u":{"type":"Image","id":"c45u","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"2.0","isHidden":false},"title":"","uri":"56a5d2_15b90e216dc74b6887626d2532dca09e~mv2_d_2152_3317_s_2.jpg","description":"","width":2152,"height":3317,"alt":"Art Angel Tattoo Hornsby"},"customBgImg4qq":{"type":"BackgroundMedia","id":"customBgImg4qq","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"2.0","isHidden":false},"color":"{color_15}","alignType":"center","fittingType":"fill","scrollType":"scroll","colorOverlay":"","colorOverlayOpacity":0.0},"customBgImgud6":{"type":"BackgroundMedia","id":"customBgImgud6","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"2.0","isHidden":false},"color":"{color_15}","alignType":"center","fittingType":"fill","scrollType":"scroll","colorOverlay":"","colorOverlayOpacity":0.0},"dataItem-j0drncva":{"type":"Image","id":"dataItem-j0drncva","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"2.0","isHidden":false},"title":"","uri":"56a5d2_264698b9918f453397a04cba185e305f~mv2.jpg","description":"","width":3020,"height":1172,"alt":""},"dataItem-je3lany2":{"type":"Image","id":"dataItem-je3lany2","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"2.0","isHidden":false},"title":"","uri":"56a5d2_a12548ebea9a45829074be8783af08b8~mv2.jpg","description":"","width":565,"height":241,"alt":""},"dataItem-jmihup41":{"type":"LinkableButton","id":"dataItem-jmihup41","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"1.0","isHidden":false},"label":"Blog site coming soon"},"dataItem-joj3jr6a":{"type":"Image","id":"dataItem-joj3jr6a","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"2.0","isHidden":false},"title":"","uri":"56a5d2_19d251d6d80a4fea845b71ab896b0b43~mv2.jpg","description":"","width":703,"height":960,"alt":"46137468_10156822300184289_7470961664246","name":"46137468_10156822300184289_7470961664246"},"dataItem-joj3kq5w":{"type":"StyledText","id":"dataItem-joj3kq5w","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"1.0","isHidden":false},"text":"(ii) Wouldn’t the tattoo license applicant’s skills be of concern to the public…? Therefore contrary to the public’s interest – My concerns would be whether a tattoo shop has tattoo artists obtaining the skill sets to perform a good tattoo first and foremost. Not individuals who have paid for a license and criminal history check resulting in being granted a 'Tattoo artist' license - with ZERO skills or experience.
\nCompliance on Steroids!
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